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Vern Buchanan urges airline to keep Sarasota-D.C. flight

Published: Monday, December 2, 2013 at 7:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 2, 2013 at 7:21 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan on Monday urged the leaders of the merging American Airlines and U.S. Airways to maintain an existing, direct flight between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Reagan National Airport, in Washington, D.C.

“Serving more than 1.3 million passengers a year, the nonstop SRQ-DCA service has been both well received by passengers as well as profitable for the airline,” Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, wrote in a letter Monday to AMR Chairman and CEO Tom Horton and Doug Parker, US Airways’ chairman and CEO.

The daily nonstop round trip flight, which is currently operated by US Airways, is one of dozens that are threatened under a merger scheduled to be completed on Dec. 9.

Under the $17.7 billion merger plan, which received approval last month from the U.S. Department of Justice, the combined American Airlines Group Inc. must sell 52 landing and takeoff slots at Reagan National to low-cost carriers to stimulate competition.

But Buchanan notes that the Department of Transportation contends routes like the one from Sarasota-Bradenton International are essential to connect Americans nationwide.

Additionally, Buchanan asserts that preserving nonstop service to a range of destinations from Reagan National to small- and medium-sized non-hub airports is part of the department’s statutory mission.

“That is why I was pleased to see the terms of the agreement clearly state that the ‘new American entities shall schedule equal to at least 75 percent of its total commuter slot holdings at (Reagan National) to serve small and non-hub airports,'” Buchanan wrote. “I believe this flight helps fulfill the terms of the agreement.”

<p>U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan on Monday urged the leaders of the merging American Airlines and U.S. Airways to maintain an existing, direct flight between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Reagan National Airport, in Washington, D.C.</p><p>“Serving more than 1.3 million passengers a year, the nonstop SRQ-DCA service has been both well received by passengers as well as profitable for the airline,” Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, wrote in a letter Monday to AMR Chairman and CEO Tom Horton and Doug Parker, US Airways' chairman and CEO.</p><p>The daily nonstop round trip flight, which is currently operated by US Airways, is one of dozens that are threatened under a merger scheduled to be completed on Dec. 9.</p><p>Under the $17.7 billion merger plan, which received approval last month from the U.S. Department of Justice, the combined American Airlines Group Inc. must sell 52 landing and takeoff slots at Reagan National to low-cost carriers to stimulate competition.</p><p>But Buchanan notes that the Department of Transportation contends routes like the one from Sarasota-Bradenton International are essential to connect Americans nationwide.</p><p>Additionally, Buchanan asserts that preserving nonstop service to a range of destinations from Reagan National to small- and medium-sized non-hub airports is part of the department's statutory mission. </p><p>“That is why I was pleased to see the terms of the agreement clearly state that the 'new American entities shall schedule equal to at least 75 percent of its total commuter slot holdings at (Reagan National) to serve small and non-hub airports,'” Buchanan wrote. “I believe this flight helps fulfill the terms of the agreement.”</p>